Sun Reflects the Same in All Water Pots

Just before the dawn, all around in the sky there is darkness but the end of night is just about to come. Then slowly Sun starts emerging & it dispels the darkness into light. Sun is also the source of energy to this world. Though Sun is 150 Million Kms from the earth but still it's rays & energy nurtures our earth just like a mother feeds her children. Sunlight is also the rich source of Vitamin-D which is essential for our body.

In Hinduism Sun is considered as a God. It is also called Surya (सूर्य, sūrya, lit "the Supreme Light"). He is worshiped in different names, chiefly as Surya Narayana, Bhaskara, Aditya, Ravi, Mitra, Bhanu etc. Many Hindus start their day with Sun worship. Even there is a temple dedicated to the Sun God at Puri in Orissa state of India. Sun God or Surya is considered as the only visible form of God that can be seen every day by us. Symbol of Sun or Surya is regarded as one of the auspicious signs for the Hindus & people place the sign of the Sun over main doors as they think it would bring them good luck.

Supreme God "Lord Krishna" Himself declares in Bhagwat-Gita that in one of it's forms He himself is there as "Sun God" which is sustaining this whole world.

"yada aditya-gatam tejo
jagad bhasayate ’khilam
yac chandramasi yac chagnau
tat tejo viddhi mamakam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 12)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The splendor of the Sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me."

"adityanam aham vishnur
jyotisam ravir amsuman
maricir marutam asmi
nakshatranam aham sasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Ten verse 21)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of Lights I am the Radiant Sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon."

Now here is, how the Sun is considered in philosophy to understand the Atman or Individual Soul. In reality the Sun, Sunshine and Sun's reflection are one but also the different. All-pervading sunshine is non-different from the sun. Both are heat and light, yet the Sun retains its form and identity as the source of everything.

Now just take the numerous "Pots filled with water" & put these below the bright noon Sun. Reflection of the Sun can be seen in all the pots & it appears that individual Sun is appearing in each pot. Not only that, water of each pot gets heated equally when Sun is reflected in the water pots. Now just as the Sun may be reflected in numerous pots of water, so the same one God is reflected in the hearts of all living beings as the Antaryami. Same Sun may shine in it's reflections on water kept in different pots but the different reflections are only apparent -'reflections' of the Sun, the real Sun is only one. Similarly there is one True Universal Self or God who is eternally pure, eternally perfect, unchangeable, unchanged; as it has never changed; and all these changes in the universe are but appearances in that one Universal Self.

This Sun appearing in different water pots analogy tells us many other things. Now just see that as long as the water exists in the pot, Sun's reflection is seen in the water pots but as long as pots are emptied of the water in it, Sun's reflection disappears. Similarly our body is like the earthen pot in which "Mind" is like the water in the pot & in this "Mind", Atman or Self's reflection gives life to this body. Now as long as the mind of a person exists in the body (pot), the image of the God or true Self (Sun) appears in this body & keeps itself alive. Now the very moment Body (pot) is emptied of "Mind", the death of a person happens & the true Soul which is the reflection of the "Universal Self" goes back to Him, just like the image of Sun in the 'Water Pot' goes back into the Sun when Pot is emptied of Water.

Jai Shri Krishna

Shape & Color Of Water

Water is the most essential element to complete the creation on earth. Without water we cannot imagine our life & rather there cannot be any life without water. Can you describe the shape & color of water? There is unlimited amount of water in the ocean or a river but what's the color & shape of this water?

In reality there is no color or shape of water. In fact, whatever, color is put into the water, it appears of that color only. Similarly, water takes the shape of the Pot, whatever type & size of the pot is. If the pot is spherical, then water takes the shape of sphere, if the pot is rectangular, water appears to be taking the shape of rectangular pot. So the shape of the water is spoken in relation to the shape of the Pot, in which water is put.

Same is the case with "Soul". The Omnipresent Soul which is invisible, indivisible & all pervasive in this universe, appears to be taking the shape of a body, when seen in relation to a body. In fact all pervasive, omnipresent soul is beyond the concept of shape, color etc. but similar to water, it appears to be taking the shape of the body, with which we are relating it. If we see a human being, we relate the omnipresent soul behind that body to be limited to the body of that particular human being. Same is the case with other bodies of animals etc. too, while in fact it is still beyond the body & is omnipresent.

Most of us identify ourselves with this body of ours. We see this body of ours in the mirror & feel that this is our real self. We start feeling ourselves as one point body in space & forget to feel the greatness of Soul which is sustaining this body of ours & which is all pervading in this universe.

As per Bhagwat Gita, we should think ourselves to be that Soul which is beyond this body, which is unthinkable, imperishable, ineffable, eternal, all pervading, immobile, un-manifest & immutable. Our nature is also that only which is also called Brahmn.

In fact we are the Omnipresent Soul inside our body & this Soul can never die though body may die. Bhagwat Gita explains this:

“acchedyo-ayam adahyo-ayam
akledyo-asoshya ev ch
nity sarv-gatah sthanur
achalo-ayam sanatanah” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 24)

"Sri Krishna said: For this individual soul is incapable of being cut; and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. This soul is eternal, constant, omnipresent, unchangeable, immovable and everlasting."

“dehi nityam avadhyo-ayam
dehe sarvasy bharat
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam shochitum-arhasi” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 30)

"Sri Krishna said: O descendant of Bharata, this soul residing in the bodies of all can never be slain. Therefore you should not grieve for any living being."

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me (Universal Soul)."

The above verses explain the omnipresent & everlasting nature of God or the Universal Soul (one who is present everywhere).

So we should not think our self limited to this body only. We are that omnipresent soul which is appearing to be this perishable body, due to our self relating it with the body; just like we think water is of the shape of the Pot, while in reality, water is having no shape & appears to be taking the shape of the Pot.

Jai Sri Krishna

Mind & the Ripple Effect

In your day to day life we are faced with problems & this makes our mind disturbed. Our natural peace of mind is gone at that time. Whenever our mind becomes disturbed & agitated, we should introspect & see why it is happening so. As we never enjoy our life if our mind is disturbed, so we should analyze & see how we can improve upon it in future & avoid our mind becoming agitated.

Below is a story in which a Master is telling his Disciple how to keep his mind cool & how to introspect when his mind is disturbed. This story shall also give you a lesson, how you can too avoid, being agitated in your mind & be always peaceful:

Once there was a Master in whose hermitage many disciples used to live. Once in the morning when the Master was going for a walk, he saw one of his disciple sad & in a troubled state of mind. Master approached him & asked, "O Dear, On such a beautiful day, it must be difficult to stay so serious."

Disciple: Yeah, it is so but I am unable to comprehend why my mind is so disturbed & agitated. Watching intently, the Master continued to walk.

"Join me if you like."The Master walked to the edge of a still pond, framed by tall dense trees.

"Please sit down," the Master invited, patting the ground next to him. Looking carefully before sitting, the Disciple brushed the ground to clear a space for himself.

"Now, find a small stone, please," the Master instructed.

Disciple: "What?"

Master: "A stone. Please find a small stone and throw it in the pond."

Searching around him, the Disciple grabbed a pebble and threw it as far as he could.

"Tell me what you see," the Master instructed.

Straining his eyes to not miss a single detail, the Disciple looked at the water's surface.

Disciple: "I see ripples."

Master: "Where did the ripples come from?"

Disciple: "From the pebble I threw in the pond, Master."

"Please reach your hand into the water and stop the ripples," the Master asked.

Not understanding, the Disciple stuck his hand in the water as a ripple neared, only to cause more ripples. The Disciple was now completely baffled. Where was this going? Had he made a mistake in seeking out the Master? Puzzled, the Disciple waited.

"Were you able to stop the ripples with your hands?" the Master asked.

Disciple: "No, of course not."

Master: "Could you have stopped the ripples, then?"

Disciple: "No, Master. I told you I only caused more ripples."

"What if you had stopped the pebble from entering the water to begin with?" The Master smiled such a beautiful smile; the Disciple could not be upset.

"Next time you are unhappy with your life, catch the stone before it hits the water. Do not spend time trying to undo what you have done. Rather, change what you are going to do before you do it." The Master looked kindly upon the Disciple.

Disciple: "But Master, how will I know what I am going to do before I do it?"

Master: "Take the responsibility for living your own life. If you're working with a doctor to treat an illness, then ask the doctor to help you understand what caused the illness. Do not just treat the ripples. Keep asking questions." The Disciple stopped, his mind reeling.

Disciple: "But I hoped you to ask you for answers. Are you saying that I know the answers?"

Master: "You may not know the answers right now, but if you ask the right questions to yourself, introspect what caused the ripples & made your mind agitated & disturbed, then you shall discover the answers."

Now here is my suggestion on how you should behave in your daily day to day life. Just follow the below two verses of Bhagwat Gita which teaches, how a person of peaceful, unwavering and undisturbed mind behaves in life:

"sama-duhkha-sukhah sva-sthah
sama-lostasma-kanchanah
tulya-priyapriyo dhiras
tulya-nindatma-samstutih" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 24)

Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: One who is situated in the Self (soul) and behaves same during happiness and distress; one who looks upon a lump of earth, a stone and a piece of gold with an equal eye; one who is equal toward the desirable and the undesirable; one who is situated equally well in praise and blame is the one who is of steady mind.

"manapamanayos tulyas
tulyo mitrari-pakshayoh
sarvarambha-parityagi
gunatitah sa ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 25)

Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: One who is steady in honor and dishonor; one who treats alike both friend and enemy; and who has renounced all material activities—such a person is said to have transcended the three modes of nature & lives in a peaceful state of mind.

Sun & the 'Water Pots'

Just before the dawn, all around in the sky there is darkness but the end of night is just about to come. Then slowly Sun starts emerging & it dispels the darkness into light. Sun is also the source of energy to this world. Though Sun is 150 Million Kms from the earth but still it's rays & energy nurtures our earth just like a mother feeds her children. Sunlight is also the rich source of Vitamin-D which is essential for our body.

In Hinduism Sun is considered as a God. It is also called Surya (सूर्य, sūrya, lit "the Supreme Light"). He is worshiped in different names, chiefly as Surya Narayana, Bhaskara, Aditya, Ravi, Mitra, Bhanu etc. Many Hindus start their day with Sun worship. Even there is a temple dedicated to the Sun God at Puri in Orissa state of India. Sun God or Surya is considered as the only visible form of God that can be seen every day by us. Symbol of Sun or Surya is regarded as one of the auspicious signs for the Hindus & people place the sign of the Sun over main doors as they think it would bring them good luck.

Supreme God "Lord Krishna" Himself declares in Bhagwat-Gita that in one of it's forms He himself is there as "Sun God" which is sustaining this whole world.

"yada aditya-gatam tejo
jagad bhasayate ’khilam
yac chandramasi yac chagnau
tat tejo viddhi mamakam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 12)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The splendor of the Sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me."

"adityanam aham vishnur
jyotisam ravir amsuman
maricir marutam asmi
nakshatranam aham sasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Ten verse 21)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of Lights I am the Radiant Sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon."

Now here is, how the Sun is considered in philosophy to understand the Atman or Individual Soul. In reality the Sun, Sunshine and Sun's reflection are one but also the different. All-pervading sunshine is non-different from the sun. Both are heat and light, yet the Sun retains its form and identity as the source of everything.

Now just take the numerous "Pots filled with water" & put these below the bright noon Sun. Reflection of the Sun can be seen in all the pots & it appears that individual Sun is appearing in each pot. Not only that, water of each pot gets heated equally when Sun is reflected in the water pots. Now just as the Sun may be reflected in numerous pots of water, so the same one God is reflected in the hearts of all living beings as the Antaryami. Same Sun may shine in it's reflections on water kept in different pots but the different reflections are only apparent -'reflections' of the Sun, the real Sun is only one. Similarly there is one True Universal Self or God who is eternally pure, eternally perfect, unchangeable, unchanged; as it has never changed; and all these changes in the universe are but appearances in that one Universal Self.

This Sun appearing in different water pots analogy tells us many other things. Now just see that as long as the water exists in the pot, Sun's reflection is seen in the water pots but as long as pots are emptied of the water in it, Sun's reflection disappears. Similarly our body is like the earthen pot in which "Mind" is like the water in the pot & in this "Mind", Atman or Self's reflection gives life to this body. Now as long as the mind of a person exists in the body (pot), the image of the God or true Self (Sun) appears in this body & keeps itself alive. Now the very moment Body (pot) is emptied of "Mind", the death of a person happens & the true Soul which is the reflection of the "Universal Self" goes back to Him, just like the image of Sun in the 'Water Pot' goes back into the Sun when Pot is emptied of Water.

Water in the Pot

"Pani Re Pani Tera Rang Kaisa", this a line from a Hindi Film Song, which means in English, "Oh Water, What's your Color". Can anyone describe the color of water or in fact can anyone tell us the shape of water? There is unlimited amount of water in the ocean or a river but what's the color & shape of this water?

In reality there is no color or shape of water. In fact, whatever, color is put into water, it appears of that color. Similarly, water takes the shape of the Pot, whatever type & size of pot is. If the pot is spherical, then water takes the shape of sphere, if the pot is rectangular, water appears to be taking the shape of rectangular pot. So the shape of the water is spoken in relation to the shape of the Pot, in which water is put.

Same is the case with "Soul". The Omnipresent Soul which is invisible, indivisible & all pervasive in the universe, appears to be taking the shape of a body, when seen in relation to a body. In fact all pervasive, omnipresent soul is beyond the concept of shape, color etc. but similar to water, it appears to be taking the shape of the body, with which we are relating it. If we see a human being, we relate the omnipresent soul behind that body to be limited to the body of that particular human being. Same is the case with other bodies of animals etc. too. If we see a dog, then we think the omnipresent soul behind that dog's body is limited to that dog only, while in fact it is still beyond that body & is omnipresent.

Most of us identify ourselves with this body of ours. We see this body of ours in the mirror & feel that this is our real self. We start feeling ourselves as one point body in space & forget to feel the greatness of soul which is sustaining this body of ours & which is all pervading in this universe.

As per Bhagwat Gita, think yourself to be that soul which is beyond this body, which is unthinkable, imperishable, ineffable, eternal, all pervading, immobile, un-manifest & immutable. In fact your nature is also that only which is also called Brahmn.

In fact we are the omnipresent soul inside our body & this soul can never die though body may die. Bhagwat Gita explains this:

“acchedyo-ayam adahyo-ayam
akledyo-asoshya ev ch
nity sarv-gatah sthanur
achalo-ayam sanatanah” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 24)

"Sri Krishna said: For this individual soul is incapable of being cut; and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. This soul is eternal, constant, omnipresent, unchangeable, immovable and everlasting."

“dehi nityam avadhyo-ayam
dehe sarvasy bharat
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam shochitum-arhasi” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 30)

"Sri Krishna said: O descendant of Bharata, this soul residing in the bodies of all can never be slain. Therefore you should not grieve for any living being."

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me (Universal Soul)."

The above verses explain the omnipresent & everlasting nature of God or the Universal Soul (one who is present everywhere).

So we should not think our self limited to this body only. We are that omnipresent soul which is appearing to be this perishable body, due to our self relating it with the body; just like we think water is of the shape of the Pot, while in reality, water is having no shape & appears to be taking the shape of Pot.